The Associate Vice President of Quality and Safety at VCU Medical Center is a strategic leader responsible for advancing clinical excellence and patient safety across the health system. This executive will champion a culture of continuous improvement, transparency, and high reliability, ensuring alignment with the mission of VCU Health which is to preserve and restore health for all people of Virginia and beyond through innovation in service, research, and education. The AVP will collaborate across the system with clinical, academic, and operational leaders to integrate quality and safety into all aspects of care delivery, education, and research at VCU Medical Center.

Essential Job Statements 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the development and execution of a VCU Medical Center strategy for quality, safety, and performance improvement across hospitals, clinics, and services while fostering collaboration across the system.  

• Assist to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards including required quality reporting submissions (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, Virginia Department of Health).Oversee activities including  Clinical Quality Outcomes, Performance Improvement, High Reliability, Infection Prevention, Patient Safety, and Quality Analytics. 

• Collaborate with VCU School of Medicine and other hospitals, clinics, and services to embed quality and safety into medical education, faculty development, and research initiatives. 

• Drive strategy to improve performance metrics such as mortality, readmissions, adverse events, and other areas of quality focus. 

• Drive strategy to perform root cause analyses, sentinel event reviews, and corrective action planning. 

• Oversees appropriate communication with external agencies, payers, and community partners on quality-related initiatives. 

• Promote a culture of safety, improved health outcomes, and just culture through leadership development, staff engagement, and system-wide education. 

• Support innovation in care delivery, such as digital health, predictive analytics, and AI-driven quality tools. 

Leadership & Collaboration 

• Collaborate  with the system and entity  executives to align clinical operations with quality and safety goals. 

• Engage team members in quality improvement and safety initiatives. 

• Oversee committees and taskforces to ensure consistent multidisciplinary involvement  focused on quality and safety. 

• Develop, manage, and mentor a high-performing team of quality and safety professionals. 

Patient Population 

Not applicable to this position. 

Employment Qualifications 

Education Required: 

Master’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, nursing, or related field 

Combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.  

Education Preferred: 

Doctoral degree in healthcare administration, public health, nursing, or related field 

Licensure Required: n/a 

Licensure Preferred: n/a 

Certification Required: 

Required certification in either healthcare quality (e.g., CPHQ) or patient safety (e.g., CPPS), however both preferred. 

Certification Preferred: 

Both CPHQ and CPPS 

Minimum Qualifications 

Years and Type of Required Experience: 

Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare quality and safety, preferably in an academic medical center. 

Proven record of leading successful quality and safety programs. 

Clinical experience preferred but not required. 

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: 

Deep knowledge of healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and performance improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA). 

Exceptional communication skills across distinct levels of the health enterprise. 

Strong analytical  and change management skills. 

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: 

Visionary leadership with a passion for academic medicine and innovation. 

Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive health outcomes. 

Commitment to advancing health outcomes. 

Demonstrates commitment to  VCU Health’s mission, values, as well as community engagement priorities. 

Working Conditions 

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. 

Required to car travel to off-site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions.
May have periods of constant interruptions. 

Prolonged periods of working alone.  

Physical Requirements    

Physical Demands:

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing  

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards    

Physical Requirements:

Hazards:

Mental/Sensory – Emotional     

Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking 

Emotional: Fast-paced environment, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change 

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.